Press

Since the beginning of 2012, 557 seabirds were found dead mostly in the shores of Peniche and Nazaré.

Razorbills (Alca torda) correspond to 96% of the dead seabirds and nearly all individuals died in the first fortnight of January.

454 individuals were collected for necropsy and analysis of cause of death performed at the Quiaios Marine Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. Almost all seabirds presented signs of drowning and several wounds, consistent with bycatch in fishing gears. 

Several organizations (Universidade do MinhoUniversidade de Aveiro, Sociedade Portuguesa de Vida Selvagem, ICNF and the Maritime Police) contributed to collecting the dead seabirds under the MarPro project financed by the LIFE Programme. This project aims at working with the fishing sector to make their activity more sustainable and to promote the conservation of marine protected species in mainland Portugal.